Westmoreland category, Page 154
Updated greenhouses will be dream come true for Derry Area agriculture teacher
After a decade leading Derry Area High School’s agriculture/horticulture program, Carly Rippole’s looking forward to summer. The school’s two greenhouses are slated to get an update that includes new panels and technology that will allow Rippole and her students to monitor and control the greenhouse environment remotely. “I’m excited to...
Assault, harassment charges against suspended Pa. trooper held for court
Simple assault and harassment charges against a suspended state trooper were held for court Tuesday. Senior District Judge Charles R. Conway made the decision at the end of a preliminary hearing during which the accuser testified Nicholas E. Hood, 31, of Derry Township assaulted her during an argument Aug. 26...
Pa. auditor general visits Westmoreland County Community College to tout new hiring practicesVideo
Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor knows the value of a community college education. It’s where he got his start on the road to becoming a state official. “We’re here to support you,” DeFoor told a group of Westmoreland County Community College students and staff Tuesday morning at the college’s Youngwood...
Missing dog may have motivated man to shoot at car in Hecla, police say
A man escaped injury Sunday after state police said his vehicle was shot at five times on Hecla Road. Troopers arrested William K. Dodrill, 44, of Mt. Pleasant Township, on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related offenses in connection with the shooting. Police reported in court papers that...
Johnstown man killed in motorcycle crash in Derry Township
A 39-year-old man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Derry Township, Westmoreland County, on Monday afternoon, the county coroner announced. Shawn Michael Pynos of Johnstown was driving alone on his Yamaha motorcycle west on Route 30 when he left the road and was ejected from his vehicle, Coroner Tim...
Diocese of Greensburg bishop outlines 3-year plan aimed at supporting children, young families
When parishioners said they wanted increased support for children and young families in the Diocese of Greensburg, Bishop Larry Kulick took notice. Kulick, who was ordained as bishop in 2021, shared his three-year vision for the diocese recently in a pastoral letter. The plan was formed through 18 listening sessions...
Ligonier area museums to offer free admission for living history, art, cricket, kids’ activities
French foes never succeeded in capturing Fort Ligonier from the British during the mid-18th century armed conflict between the two nations. But reenactors portraying French Marines will have the run of the recreated version of the fort Saturday and Sunday in Ligonier Borough. They’ll show visitors how troops would have...
Youngwood man pleads guilty to drug sales in 2 fatal overdoses
A Youngwood man pleaded guilty Monday to selling drugs to two people who died of overdoses in 2020. Frank Bogley, 71, was charged following the Feb. 1, 2020, death of 39-year-old Tina Johnson in West Newton and again after the Oct. 24, 2020, death of John W. Wiltrout Jr., 58,...
Latrobe musician will open for his guitar hero at Jergel’s
Brendan Callahan was 12 years old when he sat down as his father and a friend were reminiscing and watching old 1980s rock music videos. “He locked onto ‘Fantasy’ by Aldo Nova, where he uses his guitar at the beginning to shoot a laser and open the door to his...
EPA to Yukon landfill operator: fix violations or face $73,000-a-day fine
Federal environmental regulators have given a Yukon landfill operator a series of deadlines to fix problems in how it treats hazardous materials and stores the treated waste on its property or possibly face a $73,000-a-day fine. MAX Environmental Technologies Inc. of Pittsburgh will be able to continue treating hazardous waste...
Latrobe Municipal Authority preps for electrical overhaul of sewage plant as rate hike takes effect
Latrobe Municipal Authority is poised to update electrical systems at its sewage treatment plant as an unrelated sewage rate hike takes effect. Many of the electrical components at the Lattanzio Road plant, including the utility service entrance and related circuits, date from the 1980s, authority manager Terri Hauser noted. “They’ve...
Ligonier man charged after domestic dispute ends in police standoff
A Ligonier man was arrested after an hourslong standoff with police that started Sunday afternoon, authorities said. On Monday, Ligonier Valley police charged Thomas Crary, 47, with aggravated assault, strangulation, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Ligonier Valley police responded to the Terrace Road area about 4:15 p.m. for...
Historical program, hike will explore former Laurel Mountain railroad line
Where hiking trails now welcome visitors to explore the slopes of Laurel Mountain, at the border of Westmoreland and Somerset counties, locomotives once pulled carloads of timber and quarried stone over the lofty ridge. Participants in a May 2 program organized by the Ligonier Valley Historical Society and the Forbes...
Fishermen’s delight for derby: Sunny day and lots of fish at Mammoth Park
It was a family affair Sunday for Jason and Heather Newhouse of Youngstown, who brought their two children and niece to Mammoth Park Lake in Mt. Pleasant Township for the Westmoreland County-sponsored fishing derby. Jason Newhouse, 10-year-old twins Sophia and Caleb, along with his niece, Adyson Vought, 11, of Latrobe,...
Fire damages vacant buildings in Monessen
Fire damaged two vacant buildings in Monessen early Sunday morning. The fire was reported at 3:30 a.m. on Rostraver Street, a Westmoreland County Public Safety supervisor said. Monessen firefighters were assisted by fire departments from neighboring communities, the supervisor said. Additional details were not available Sunday morning....
Westmoreland happenings: Plant sales, craft shows, rummage sales, more
Fundraisers • A spring craft and vendor show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4 at St. John the Evangelist Church Hall, 306 St. John Drive, Latrobe. Homemade haluski, pierogi and meatball sandwiches and other lunch items will be sold. Free admission. The church is accessible and...
Ligonier Valley students test waters of fly fishing in Trout Unlimited program
Thirteen-year-old Blake Rensko left behind the confines of his seventh grade classroom at Ligonier Valley Middle School on a recent Wednesday to spend some time angling in a nearby stretch of the Loyalhanna Creek. He didn’t catch anything during his fly-fishing excursion, but he hooked a 20-inch rainbow trout and...
Norwin Senior Citizens Dinner provides service opportunity for students
Norwin High School’s cafeteria was transformed into a disco on April 21 for the 35th annual Senior Citizens Dinner — hosted by members of student council. Kailey Resnik and Carlie Goretzka, student council members, chaired the event with a “Disco Fever” theme. About 300 senior citizens attended. “It’s definitely really...
Truck driver injured in crash into Murrysville collision center
Derek Severns was not interested in the irony of a truck colliding with the collision center he manages. Severns was more concerned with making sure his employees were all right. “Amazingly, no one inside was injured,” said Severns, manager at Bowser Collision Center on Route 22 in Murrysville, where a...
Out of the ashes: Unity fitness center clients help owner recover from devastating fire
For many clients of My Fitness Kitchen in Unity, seeing the damage left behind by a fire this week at the business was heartbreaking. Knowing owner Mark Rullo’s passion and livelihood was in jeopardy made it even worse. That pushed dozens of them to show up Friday morning to the...
Defense claims prosecutor misconduct during 2016 trial for New Stanton motel killing
The lawyer for a McKeesport man convicted of first-degree murder at a New Stanton motel is accusing prosecutors of misconduct during a 2016 trial. Attorney Chris Rand Eyster said prosecutors failed to adequately disclose key information regarding pending federal charges against an eyewitness. The eyewitness testified that she saw Christopher...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: April 26-28
Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor kind of weekend, there will be fun stuff to do in Westmoreland County. Here’s a few options. ‘On A Limb’ exhibit opening Join You Are Here in Jeannette on Saturday for the opening of their “On A Limb” exhibit. The show features art in...
Mt. Pleasant man charged in connection with Jan. 6 riot in Washington, D.C.
A man arrested Thursday in Mt. Pleasant is accused of following a crowd into the U.S. Capitol during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. William Irvin Fuller, 31, was taken into custody on federal charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted...
Visit Ligonier: Shop, Dine, Play and Stay this spring and summer
Welcome to the Ligonier Valley! We invite you to stroll our streets. Many people are drawn to Ligonier, with its tree-lined streets, interesting shops, and bandstand on the Diamond in the center of town. Others come for our many recreational activities like skiing and snowboarding, fishing, golfing, hiking and biking...
Hibernians group celebrates Irish culture, looks to expand local membership
Mixed in with Jim Ramsay’s mostly Scottish heritage there’s a wee bit of an Irish bloodline. “My grandmother was a Callahan,” Ramsay said. That’s enough to qualify the Unity man for membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He recently was elected vice president of the American organization’s St. Brendan...
